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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) - Symptoms
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms tend to start gradually. Often, hormone changes that lead to PCOS start in the early teens, after the first menstrual period. Symptoms may be especially noticeable after a weight gain.
With PCOS, you may have only a few symptoms or many symptoms. It is common for PCOS symptoms to be mistaken for other medical problems.
Early symptoms
Early symptoms of PCOS include:
- Few or no
menstrual periods
. This can range from less than nine
menstrual cycles in a year (more than 35 days between
cycles) to no menstrual periods.3 Some women with
PCOS have regular periods but are not ovulating every month. This means that
their ovaries are not releasing an egg each month. - Heavy, irregular vaginal bleeding. About 30% of women with PCOS have this symptom.4
- Hair loss from the scalp and hair growth (hirsutism) on the face, chest, back, stomach, thumbs, or toes. About 70% of women in the United States with PCOS complain of these hair problems caused by high androgen levels.5
- Acne and oily skin, caused by high androgen levels.
- Depression or mood swings. Hormonal changes are a known cause of emotional symptoms.
Living with PCOS symptoms can affect your sense of well-being, sexual satisfaction, and overall quality of life. This too can lead to depression.6 For more information, see the topic Depression or Depression in Children and Teens.
Gradual symptoms
PCOS symptoms that may develop gradually include:
- Weight gain or upper body obesity (more around the abdomen than the hips). This is linked to high androgen levels.5
- Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair (alopecia). This is linked to high androgen levels.
- Repeat miscarriages. The cause for this is not known. These miscarriages may be linked to high insulin levels, delayed ovulation, or other problems such as the quality of the egg or how the egg attaches to the uterus.
- Inability to become pregnant (infertility). This is because the ovaries are not releasing an egg (not ovulating).
- Symptoms of too much insulin (hyperinsulinemia) and insulin resistance, which can include upper body weight gain and skin changes, such as skin tags or dark, velvety skin patches under the arm, on the neck, or in the groin and genital area.
- Breathing problems while sleeping (obstructive sleep apnea). This is linked to both obesity and insulin resistance.3
- Pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis (chronic pelvic pain).
High blood pressure may be more common in women with PCOS, especially if they are very overweight. Your doctor will check your blood pressure.
The most common reasons that first bring women with PCOS to a doctor include:
- Menstrual problems.
- Male-type hair growth (hirsutism) on the face and body.
- Infertility.
- Weight gain or upper body obesity.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Topics
ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:
- · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
- · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
- · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENBLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENBALEX affects you.
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
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